Belgian carriers will test the cooperation model that reduces costs. They will share fleets

The Flemish Logistics Institute (VIL) in cooperation with carriers initiated a project that aims to optimize the costs of road transport. To meet the market’s requirements, transport companies will lend themselves trucks. The „Cambion” project will last two years. The final report will tell if this solution can be implemented on a larger scale.

Many transport companies are struggling with the problem of the lack of trucks in peak periods for a given industry. It also happens that trucks are at a standstill instead of generating profits. According to Eva Gonzales, „Cambion” project manager, fleet sharing can be a solution to this problem, which at the same time reduces costs and generates additional revenues.

Downtime of transport means is a problem many companies face. A survey carried out by VIL with carriers and logistics operators showed that 50 percent of respondents said that trucks are sometimes at a standstill during peak periods. In the case of almost 20 percent, this is often the case,” comments Eva Gezels for TransportMedia.be.

The task of the Flemish Logistics Institute (VIL) will now be to make an inventory and determine the rules on which companies would rent vehicles from each other. In addition, the institute will check how insurance, leasing, and finance would look like.

Lower costs, bigger profits

At the moment, nothing is decided, but according to the information provided for Trans.Info by Filip Van Hulle from VIL, the price for renting a truck will be much lower than in commercial vehicle rental. In a similar way, the issues of leasing and insurance solutions will most probably be modeled on contracts signed with car rental companies. In other words, a cooperation model will be created that will meet all legal requirements. This model will be tested by eight carriers in the next phase of the project.

VIL will also create a simulation model to check when and which company has the largest and least demand for trucks.

For example, shopping centers and warehouses can be serviced at night, while in distribution centers goods are loaded during the day – says Eva Gezels.

Thanks to data provided by carriers, the institute will develop an optimal model of cooperation.